News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County is taking steps to make schools safer this year with better security.
The Board of Education Tuesday approved bids to upgrade security entrances to all eight schools. Board Member Jarman Hicks said after school shootings became more common, board members knew something had to be done.
“The purpose of those is to make an entrance way into the school system,” Hicks said. “That way anyone outside, any visitor, would have to go through the office instead of having full access to the school.”
Hicks said the board applied for a state Safety Grant to help pay for the project. Board members approved Lee Adcock Construction’s $150,000 bid. The Safety Grant will pay $56,200.
The BOE will contact the construction company to begin preparations as soon as next week, Hicks said.
“We’ll have to coordinate with schools as far as when students are there and when they’re not there because in some schools that’s your main entrance for students as well,” Hicks said.
